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The Riigikogu is the parliament of Estonia. Its 101 members are elected at general elections for a term of four years. The Riigikogu passes laws and resolutions, exercises parliamentary supervision and ratifies international agreements.

The Riigikogu has 11 standing commitees and 6 select committees. Commitees of investigation and study committees are formed to investigate issues of public interest or problems of significant imprtance.

Pentus-Rosimannus: We support Kosovo in carrying out the reforms and developing of e-government

22.02.2017 / Press releases, Foreign Affairs Committee

Deputy Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Keit Pentus-Rosimannus discussed possibilities for cooperation between the parliaments in the developing of e-government with Chairman of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo Kadri Veseli at their meeting in Pristina.

“The Parliament of Estonia is ready to offer support and advice to Kosovo in carrying out the reforms,” Pentus-Rosimannus assured. “Developing of e-services and e-government is one specific field where Estonia can share its experience, and where both sides are interested in cooperation.”

Pentus-Rosimannus said that Kosovo, with a population of 1.8 million, would continue with economic reforms and looked for possibilities for making their government sector more effective and transparent.

At the Summit of European Affairs and Foreign Affairs Committees in Pristina, the Deputy Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu also had meetings with Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of Kosovo Elmi Reçica and Minister for Dialogue of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo Edita Tahiri.

Perspective of the integration of Kosovo with the European Union was discussed with the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Pentus-Rosimannus emphasised that Estonia supported Kosovo’s moving towards the European Union. “At the moment the European Union has lots of internal troubles it has to deal with, but besides them, there has to be room for attention to neighbours and enlargement policy, may it concern Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova or Western Balkan countries,” Pentus-Rosimannus said. “Stable, developing and peaceful Western Balkan is in the interests of the people living there, and the European Union.”

Relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and visa liberalisation with the EU, which is the most important aim for the near future for Kosovo, were discussed with Minister for Dialogue Tahiri. At the moment, Kosovo is the only Western Balkan country that does not have visa freedom with the EU. Visa liberalisation has got stuck behind the ratification of the border agreement between Kosovo and Montenegro.

“We in Estonia remember very well how important a change it was to get to the other countries of Europe without standing in lines for visas and undergoing often rather expensive procedures,” Pentus-Rosimannus recalled, and expressed hope that Kosovo would be able to overcome all obstacles and continue with the visa liberalisation process.

The Summit of European Affairs and Foreign Affairs Committees was held in Pristina on 19–21 February. It was attended by President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi, Speaker of the Parliament Kadri Veseli, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi, Minister of Justice Dhurata Hoxha, Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Parliament Elmi Reçica.

Kosovo is a potential candidate for future enlargement of the European Union. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Kosovo entered into force in April 2016